The apple (Malus domestica Borkhausen) is an excellent nutritional source of economical interest, with emphasis to the Brazilian Southern Region which comprises 90% of national apple production, mainly Gala and Fuji cultivars.The aim of this research was to evaluate patulin production in both cultivars, inoculated with Penicillium expansum NRRL 1172 and a toxigenic P. variabile strain isolated from commercialized apples. Samples for analysis were taken from apples stored under combined conditions of time and temperature, which ranged from 15 to 90 days period and 0 to 25°C, respectively. Patulin was produced throughout the storage temperatures assayed with both Penicillium strains. The patulin production was negative until 30th day in apples stored at 0°C, but increase of temperature to 4°C restricted the safety threshold. P. variabile produced higher concentration of patulin in inoculated apples (F=68,05) more than P. expansum NRRL1172 (F=26,0). The frequent occurrence of patulin even at refrigerated temperature indicated the importance of quality control at harvest and storage stage of fruits, to avoid constant risk of toxin ingestion.
apple; patulin; Penicillium spp.
